Coronin-1 expression in T lymphocytes: insights into protein function during T cell development and activation

Coronin has been described as an actin-binding protein of Dictyostelium discoideum, and it has been demonstrated to play a role in cell migration, cytokinesis and phagocytosis. Coronin-related proteins are found in many eukaryotic species, including Coronin-1 in mammals whose expression is enriched in the hematopoietic tissues. Here, we characterize Coronin-1 gene and protein expression in mouse embryonic and adult T lymphocytes. Coronin-1 is expressed throughout T cell ontogeny and in peripheral alphabeta T cells. Expression varies along thymic cell development, with maximum levels observed in embryonic early thymocytes and, in the adults, the selected TCRalphabeta(+) single-positive thymocytes. Subcellular localization analysis indicates that Coronin-1 is in equilibrium between the cytosol and the cell cortex, where it accumulates in F-actin-rich membrane protrusions induced by polarized activation of TCR-CD3-stimulated T cells. These data are consistent with a role of Coronin-1 in T cell differentiation/activation events involving membrane dynamisms and the cortical actin cytoskeleton.